Surgeon General's Call to Action: "Promote Healthy Homes"

Surgeon General's Call to Action: "Promote Healthy Homes"

MRC volunteers in Arizona are encouraged to take action individually and through MRC unit activities to emphasize the Surgeon General's message "health begins at home."  - Captain Rob Tosatto, Director OCVMRC

June 9, 2009 Health Homes PDF outlines actions and next steps to strengthen and widen efforts to improve the health of the nation's homes ensuring they are safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly for everyone in the United States.

This message has an attachment.  If you are reading this at the Chandler CERT webstie and would like to request the PDF, contact Loretta at Chandler Fire.

Executive Summary:

Promoting healthy homes will have a direct, immediate, and measureable effect on the health of the nation. Strengthening and widening these efforts is an urgent matter that will require dedication, ingenuity, skill, and the concerted effort on the parts of many people in many sectors.

Special Update:

·                       On Friday June 5, 2009 Arizona State Citizen Corps Council Member and ADHS Bureau Chief, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Teresa Ehnert was honored with the Arizona Medical Association's Annual "Public Health Service Award." Congratulations!!

·                       Special thanks and recognition to Medical Reserve Corp of Southern Arizona Unit Leader Tim Siemsen for advocating 6 national training seats for inter-jurisdictional MRC partners in Arizona (including Yuma County MRC unit leader Rogelio Torres) to attend training this month at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness located in Anniston, Alabama (the US Department of Homeland Security's only federally chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Training Center). MRC members from Arizona will receive hands on practical exercise training to build response knowledge and skills regarding public health incidences involving weapons of mass destruction - knowledge and experience they can bring back to Arizona and share with our community of public health partners.

·                       AZ-ESAR-VHP adds Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to the states priority profession list. Lead by Doctor Skip Harris of cave creek Arizona, a statewide volunteer team of pre-credentialed Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons willing to serve during a public health emergency will begin registration and be encouraged to link with their local Medical Reserve Corps. To register today visit www.azdhs.gov/volunteer

·                       Next 2009 Public Health Volunteer Coordinator Workgroup Meeting: Phoenix Arizona July 1^st (State Laboratory 10:00am - 3:00pm) for more information contact Antonio Hernandez, ADHS 602-763-1774

·                       Take the opportunity to serve the State Citizen Corps Council as an MRC Representative. Those interested can apply at the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions website http://azgovernor.gov/bc/ for more information contact Cheryl Bowen, State Citizen Corps Council 602-542-7077.

Antonio Hernandez

State Volunteer Response Coordinator

Arizona Department of Health Services

602-763-1774